Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle Accident Lawyers Serving California Help You Get Back on Your Feet

Rely on our experience to get the compensation you deserve

Bicycling can be a way to get where you’re going, get some exercise or simply enjoy the outside world. Unfortunately, drivers often don’t pay enough attention to bikes when they open car doors, change lanes or cross intersections. If you have been injured in a California bicycling accident, you need an experienced injury law firm like Crane Flores, LLP on your side. Our bicycle accident lawyers in Oxnard, Ventura and Santa Barbara have more than 40 years of combined legal experience. We can help you get compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering and lost wages.

Bicycle accident facts

Most roads are designed for cars and can be a dangerous place for bikes. In 2010, 618 bicyclists were killed and 52,000 more were injured in accidents involving motor vehicles. California led the country with 99 bicyclist fatalities in 2010. Whether you are in Oxnard or Santa Barbara, you should always bike with caution.

California bike laws

Under California law, bicyclists must wear a helmet each time they ride. Helmets protect you from most head injuries, but the force of the impact when struck by a car or truck can still result in serious harm. Because there is little to protect the rider, injuries can include bruises, fractures, head trauma and spine injuries, which are the same injuries typically seen in pedestrian accidents.

Both drivers and bicyclists have obligations on the roadways. Under California Vehicle Code Section 21200, “Every person riding a bicycle upon a street or highway has all the rights and is subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle.” This means that bicyclists and drivers must follow the same rules of the road, such as obeying stop signs, yielding to oncoming traffic and signaling when turning.

Common causes of Oxnard, Ventura and Santa Barbara bicycle accidents

Drivers of motor vehicles often don’t share the road very well with bicyclists. Crashes frequently occur when:

The driver fails to yield. Accidents frequently occur at intersections when motor vehicle operators fail to yield the right-of-way and turn into the path of a cyclist.

The driver is inattentive. Drivers often do not exercise enough care when backing out of a driveway, changing lanes or passing a bicyclist.

The driver is impaired. Drinking and driving accounts for a large percentage of all bicycle accidents. In many cases, the accident may also be a hit and run.

The driver carelessly opens a car door. Although illegal under California law, drivers often open their car doors into the path of an oncoming bicyclist.

The driver enters the bike lane. While riding in a bike lane should be safer, car drivers cause serious accidents by unexpectedly veering into these lanes if they are distracted while driving.

Pursuing a bicycle accident claim

When someone else’s negligence is to blame for a bicycle accident, victims are entitled to compensation for their injuries. Damages may include medical expenses, loss of wages and pain and suffering.

Unfortunately, insurance companies and other responsible parties often try to blame the bicyclist for the accident. Common allegations include that the biker was changing lanes improperly or rode into the path of a car. Because California follows the doctrine of comparative negligence, it is always important to fight these claims. If you are found at fault for the accident, any recovery you receive in an injury lawsuit is reduced by your percentage of liability. For instance, if you were 10 percent at fault for the accident, your damages can be reduced by 10 percent. This is yet another reason to have an experienced bicycle accident attorney on your side.

Call now for a powerful legal ally

At Crane Flores, LLP, our seasoned lawyers help injury victims recover from serious bike crashes. With offices in Santa Barbara, Oxnard and Ventura, we serve clients throughout California. We also offer hospital or home visits to accident victims and their families. Call our offices today at 805.568.5927 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.

Recent Results

Vehicle Accident - quadriplegia - $125 Million

Police Shooting Death - $6.7 Million

Tractor Accident - arm injury - $1.1 Million

Neck Surgery - $2.4 Million

Vehicle Accident - neck surgery - $1 Million

Vehicle Accident - lumbar discectomy - $900,000

Fall in Retail Parking Lot - wrist and knee surgery - $500,000

Vehicle Accident – quadriplegia - $125 Million

Shooting Death - $2.4 Million

Testimonials

When I was hit head on by a drunk driver I went to the E.R. and the drunk went to jail. A friend told me about Mark Flores. He handled my case in a most professional manner, his calm and even demeanor yet firm determination in dealing with the insurance companies attorney resulted in my getting a fair and substantial settlement. His substantial experience and attention to details was invaluable. Way to go, Mark! I would recommend him to anyone having suffered a personal injury.

I had a very tough case. I had a fall at a hospital and suffered from some very significant injuries. This law firm did such a fantastic job for me and recovered my medical bills and plenty for my pain and suffering. I am so very happy with the result. I would not hesitate to use this firm again or recommend them to my friends or family.

I was hit by a big rig while riding my motorcycle to work, the police investigation found the other driver to be 100% at fault yet the trucks insurance company did not see it that way and was refusing to take full culpability. After trying to deal with it on my own for a couple of months and getting nowhere I sought out Mark’s help in the situation. He helped me take care of everything from getting me a very fair settlement to working with the hospital to get my medical bills reduced. Mark is the best!

I was a passenger in an accident a couple of years ago which caused me to suffer a pretty bad back injury. 2 doctors recommended I needed a surgery and I had one which has made me feel so much better. Mr. Flores made the legal process so simple for me as I was going through so much already. I recommend him to all my friends and family. Very knowledgable and professional.

Anyone would expect their own lawyer to represent their interests and that's exactly what Mr. Flores did for me. I had an accident a couple of years ago and I had hired another lawyer before him and I was very unsatisfied. I switched over to Mr. Flores and he took it from there and took everything in control. One of the best decisions I've made! 5 star lawyer!

“Mark Flores's representation was an answer to prayer. If you need an effective personal injury attorney, Mark should be your first choice. Mark is one of the most experienced, skilled, and integrity-displaying attorneys I have ever met . . .

As a graduate level professor I got to know plenty of attorneys at a university whose law school graduated dozens of them each year, very few displaying the integrity and trustworthiness that Mark displays in his work and communication. Mark was extremely helpful, responsive, and expert in his handling of my case.

He closed the case six months earlier than expected yielding a recovery from the insurance companies that was more than my wife and I expected. Please do yourself a favor and choose Crane Flores as your personal injury law firm.”

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Crane Flores, LLP Attorneys at Law is located in Santa Barbara, Oxnard and Ventura Counties and serves clients throughout the state of California.

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